Royal approval

TAKING care of business . . . Prince

A FLURRY of excitement swept through Oldham yesterday when the Duke of York dropped in for a special visit.

Prince Andrew arrived in style, descending on Oldham Edge in a royal navy blue helicopter, much to the surprise of onlooking residents.

His visit centred around Pitch@Palace ­- a business event held at the new Yorkshire Street Digital Enterprise Hub.

A total of 15 entrepreneurs from the North pitched their business plans to a panel of judges as part of the scheme which aims to bring together start-up enterprises, investors and advisers.

Prince Andrew said: "We have been to Oldham before and we have seen there is a lot of innovation in this part of the world.

"We find more innovation by going around the country than we do by just sitting in London.

"Many of these businesses are solving local problems and that is what this is about ­- finding local solutions to national problems.

"There are hundreds of thousands of small businesses. The trick is to develop these into medium-sized businesses which then go outside the UK to other markets."

Pitch@Palace aims to place start-up businesses in front of an audience which gives them opportunities to expand.

Oldham tech firm JobSkilla was one of the 15 start-up technology firms to deliver a three-minute pitch at the event yesterday.

Launched by Shaw-based couple Chris and Lisa Hughes, JobSkilla is an online service which provides free and funded training courses and support for job-seekers.

The firm was selected by Wayra UK to receive six-month growth support after producing an app for mobile phones and computers.

Chris said: "I was gutted that I was cut off at three minutes but I felt that I got my passion and drive across.

"If nothing else we have been able to show and demonstrate how others can support the unemployed."

Abdul Alim who co-founded Oldham firm Offer Moments with Shahzad Mughal, participated in a question-and-answer session to share their experience of Pitch@Palace after winning the People's Choice Award at a Pitch@Palace event two years ago.

Abdul said: "At first we thought Pitch@Palace was another gimmick but we applied and ended up getting through.

"My goodness the process is scary but it is so worth it."

Winners of the Oldham event were MusicForPets which provide relaxing music for pets via a YouTube channel, Triple Tread who are making cycling accessible to those with disabilities, and DriverNet which connects drivers with customers in a safe way via an app.

Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton, said: "Today was about coming together and being able to regenerate Oldham with a very clear social direction.

"It shows the journey Oldham is on. Even people who weren't successful today have got a business hub in their home town where they can seek support.

"If there is anything I can do in terms of meeting with people, offering advice and helping them I will."

Oldham Pitch@Palace host Wayra UK, which is part of the O2-Telefonica group, run the Open Future North support programme at the digital hub and have chosen JobSkilla and Offer Moments as two of several firms for its first phase of support.

Director of Wayra UK Gary Stewart said: "This is one of the UK's leading initiatives to help start-ups, and it is brilliant to be able to bring it to Oldham via our brand-new tech accelerator."

Norval Scott, of Wayra UK, added: "Oldham is a place that is really going places ­- it has a ton of energy, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a local government that is doing all the right things to engage with companies to ensure that they are encouraging development in the region."

Prince Andrew added: "Over time I think this hub will be absolutely fantastic. By coming here, we are raising its profile, and hopefully people will come and use it."

Following Pitch@Palace events in Oldham, Aberdeen and Bristol, 12 winning companies will be invited to pitch at St James's Palace, in London, for the chance to secure further opportunities for support and investment.